Am J Ophthalmol, 2002 Jan, 133(1), 145 - 7 Acute postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Actinomyces neuii; Garelick JM et al.; PURPOSE: To describe a case of acute postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Actinomyces neuii after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant . METHODS: Interventional case report . A 58-year-old male underwent phacoemulsification, right eye, with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant . On postoperative day 6, he presented with pain, redness, and decreased visual acuity, right eye, and was found to have endophthalmitis . RESULTS: Vitreous cultures revealed the gram-positive, anaerobe Actinomyces neuii . After appropriate intraocular, periocular, topical, and systemic therapy, the infection cleared, but the vision of the patient never improved as a result of a central vein occlusion . CONCLUSION: Actinomyces species can rarely cause postoperative endophthalmitis, and it should be considered in cases of severe postoperative intraocular inflammation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2002 Jan, 46(1), 220 - 4 In vitro antianaerobic activity of ertapenem (MK-0826) compared to seven other compounds; Hoellman DB et al.; Ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, ceftriaxone, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, clindamycin, and metronidazole were agar dilution MIC tested against 431 anaerobes . Imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem were the most active beta-lactams (MICs at which 50% of the strains are inhibited {MIC(50)s}, 0.125 to 0.25 microg/ml; MIC(90)s, 1.0 to 2.0 microg/ml) . Time-kill studies revealed that ertapenem at two times the MIC was bactericidal for 9 of 10 strains after 48 h . The kinetics for other beta-lactams were similar to those of ertapenem. Gene, 2001 Dec 27, 281(1-2), 63 - 70 A gene, cobA + hemD, from Selenomonas ruminantium encodes a bifunctional enzyme involved in the synthesis of vitamin B12; Anderson PJ et al.; Coenzymes derived from vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) are particularly important for core metabolism in ruminant animals . Selenomonas ruminantium, a Gram-positive obligate anaerobe isolated from cattle, is the main contributor of vitamin B12 to such ruminant animals . In nature, there are both aerobic and anaerobic pathways for B12 synthesis - the latter is only partly elucidated . Until now, there has been no investigation of B12 synthesis in S . ruminantium, which must use an anaerobic pathway . This paper reports the cloning of the chromosomal operon from S . ruminantium which is responsible for the first committed steps in corrinoid synthesis . Five open reading frames were found in the cloned fragment . All deduced amino acid sequences had similarity to defined proteins in the databases that are involved in porphyrin and corrin synthesis . Of particular interest is the gene designated cobA + hemD, which encodes a single polypeptide possessing two catalytic functions - uroporphyrinogen III synthase and uroporphyrinogen III 2,7-methyltransferase . This enzyme converts hydroxymethylbilane to precorrin-2 . The functions of the protein coded by cobA + hemD were established by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli . The CobA activity has been demonstrated for three distinct types of proteins - monofunctional, bifunctional with siroheme formation and, this report, bifunctional with uroporphyrinogen III synthesis . The type found in S . ruminantium (cobA + hemD) is probably restricted to obligately anaerobic fermentative bacteria. FEBS Lett, 2001 Dec 14, 509(3), 345 - 9 A new family of CoA-transferases; Heider J; CoA-transferases are found in organisms from all lines of descent . Most of these enzymes belong to two well-known enzyme families, but recent work on unusual biochemical pathways of anaerobic bacteria has revealed the existence of a third family of CoA-transferases . The members of this enzyme family differ in sequence and reaction mechanism from CoA-transferases of the other families . Currently known enzymes of the new family are a formyl-CoA: oxalate CoA-transferase, a succinyl-CoA: (R)-benzylsuccinate CoA-transferase, an (E)-cinnamoyl-CoA: (R)-phenyllactate CoA-transferase, and a butyrobetainyl-CoA: (R)-carnitine CoA-transferase . In addition, a large number of proteins of unknown or differently annotated function from Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya apparently belong to this enzyme family . Properties and reaction mechanisms of the CoA-transferases of family III are described and compared to those of the previously known CoA-transferases. Biotechnol Bioeng, 2002 Jan 5, 77(1), 20 - 6 Acetoclastic methanogenic activity measurement by a titration bioassay; Rozzi A et al.; A titration bioassay, designed to accurately determine the activity of acetoclastic methanogens, is described that also allows evaluation of inhibition due to potential toxicants on the active biomass . The instrument is made of a pH-stat connected to an anaerobic batch reactor . Acetate is blended and mixed with anaerobic sludge in the reactor where a 1:1 N2 and CO2 mixture is sparged at the beginning of each test . As the acetoclastic methanogens consume acetate, the pH increase, and the titration unit adds acetic acid and keeps the pH constant . The rate of titrant addition is directly proportional to the methanogenic activity . A very useful feature of the system is its potential to operate for long periods (days) at constant pH and substrate (acetate) concentration . The theoretical background and principle of operation are described as well as some of the practical problems encountered with the use of the instrument . Estimation of kinetic constants for an anaerobic culture according to the Michaelis-Menten model is presented . Examples of inhibition by inorganics (NaCl) and chlorinated solvents (chloroform) are also given . J Bacteriol, 2002 Jan, 184(1), 207 - 15 Degradation of aromatics and chloroaromatics by Pseudomonas sp . strain B13: purification and characterization of 3-oxoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) transferase and 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase; Kaschabek SR et al.; The degradation of 3-oxoadipate in Pseudomonas sp . strain B13 was investigated and was shown to proceed through 3-oxoadipyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to give acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA . 3-Oxoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase of strain B13 was purified by heat treatment and chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 gels . Estimation of the native molecular mass gave a value of 115,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 12 column . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions resulted in two distinct bands of equal intensities . The subunit A and B values were 32,900 and 27,000 Da . Therefore it can be assumed that the enzyme is a heterotetramer of the type A2B2 with a molecular mass of 120,000 Da . The N-terminal amino acid sequences of both subunits are as follows: subunit A, AELLTLREAVERFVNDGTVALEGFTHLIPT; subunit B, SAYSTNEMMTVAAARRLKNGAVVFV . The pH optimum was 8.4 . Km values were 0.4 and 0.2 mM for 3-oxoadipate and succinyl-CoA, respectively . Reversibility of the reaction with succinate was shown . The transferase of strain B13 failed to convert 2-chloro- and 2-methyl-3-oxoadipate . Some activity was observed with 4-methyl-3-oxoadipate . Even 2-oxoadipate and 3-oxoglutarate were shown to function as poor substrates of the transferase . 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, blue 3GA, and reactive brown-agarose . Estimation of the native molecular mass gave 162,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 6 column . The molecular mass of the subunit of the denatured protein, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was 42 kDa . On the basis of these results, 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase should be a tetramer of the type A4 . The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was determined to be SREVYI-DAVRTPIGRFG . The pH optimum was 7.8 . Km values were 0.15 and 0.01 mM for 3-oxoadipyl-CoA and CoA, respectively . Sequence analysis of the thiolase terminus revealed high percentages of identity (70 to 85%) with thiolases of different functions . The N termini of the transferase subunits showed about 30 to 35% identical amino acids with the glutaconate-CoA transferase of an anaerobic bacterium but only an identity of 25% with the respective transferases of aromatic compound-degrading organisms was found. J Bacteriol, 2002 Jan, 184(1), 18 - 28 Trypsin mediates growth phase-dependent transcriptional tegulation of genes involved in biosynthesis of ruminococcin A, a lantibiotic produced by a Ruminococcus gnavus strain from a human intestinal microbiota; Gomez A et al.; Ruminococcin A (RumA) is a trypsin-dependent lantibiotic produced by Ruminococcus gnavus E1, a gram-positive strict anaerobic strain isolated from a human intestinal microbiota . A 12.8-kb region from R . gnavus E1 chromosome, containing the biosynthetic gene cluster of RumA, has been cloned and sequenced . It consisted of 13 open reading frames, organized in three operons with predicted functions in lantibiotic biosynthesis, signal transduction regulation, and immunity . One unusual feature of the locus is the presence of three almost identical structural genes, all of them encoding the RumA precursor . In order to determine the role of trypsin in RumA production, the transcription of the rum genes has been investigated under inducing and noninducing conditions . Trypsin activity is needed for the growth phase-dependent transcriptional activation of RumA operons . Our results suggest that bacteriocin production by R . gnavus E1 is controlled through a complex signaling mechanism involving the proteolytic processing of a putative extracellular inducer-peptide by trypsin, a specific environmental cue of the digestive ecosystem. J Pharm Pharm Sci, 2001 Sep-Dec, 4(3), 235 - 43 Guar gum as a carrier for colon specific delivery; influence of metronidazole and tinidazole on in vitro release of albendazole from guar gum matrix tablets; Krishnaiah YS et al.; PURPOSE: The present investigation is to study the influence of metronidazole and tinidazole on the usefulness of guar gum, a colon-specific drug carrier based on the metabolic activity of colonic bacteria, using matrix tablets of albendazole (containing 20% of guar gum) as a model formulation . METHODS: The matrix tablets of albendazole were subjected to in vitro drug release studies in simulated colonic fluids (4%w/v of rat caecal contents) obtained after oral treatment of rats for 7 days either with varying doses of metronidazole/ tinidazole and 1 mL of 2%w/v of guar gum or with 1 mL of 2%w/v of guar gum alone (control study) after completing the dissolution study in 0.1 M HCl (2 h) and pH 7.4 Sorensen's phosphate buffer (3 h) . RESULTS: The guar gum matrix tablets of albendazole were found degraded by colonic bacteria of rat caecal contents and released about 44% of albendazole in simulated colonic fluids (control study) at the end of 24 h indicating the susceptibility of the guar gum formulations to the rat caecal contents . However, the release of albendazole decreased when the drug release studies were carried out in caecal contents of rats treated for 7 days with either metronidazole (10-50 mg/ kg once daily) or tinidazole (10-30 mg/ kg once daily), and the release of albendazole from the matrix tablets was found to be dose dependent . The release of the drug from guar gum formulations was found to increase with a decrease in the dose of metronidazole/tinidazole administered . The antimicrobial activity of metronidazole/ tinidazole against the anaerobic bacteria of the rat"s GI flora might have been inhibited to a varying degree depending on the dose of metronidazole/tinidazole administered . CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study showed that concomitant administration of either metronidazole or tinidazole with guar gum based colon-specific drug delivery systems may interfere with the targeting of drugs to colon. Pharmacoeconomics, 2001, 19(11), 1135 - 75 Piperacillin/tazobactam: a pharmacoeconomic review of its use in moderate to severe bacterial infections; Young M et al.; Piperacillin/tazobactam is a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria . Piperacillin/tazobactam is effective and well-tolerated in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), intra-abdominal infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and febrile neutropenia . In comparative clinical trials against various other antibacterial regimens, piperacillin/tazobactam has shown higher clinical success rates, particularly in the treatment of patients with intra-abdominal infections and febrile neutropenia . Cost analyses of piperacillin/tazobactam have been variable, in part, because of differences in specific costs included . Three US cost analyses found that piperacillin/tazobactam had lower total medical costs than clindamycin plus gentamicin or imipenem/cilastatin in intra-abdominal infections, and ticarcillin/ clavulanic acid in community-acquired pneumonia . Piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin had lower total costs than ceftazidime plus amikacin in another cost analysis of patients with febrile neutropenic episodes modelled in nine European countries . However, piperacillin/tazobactam plus tobramycin was more costly than ceftazidime plus tobramycin in hospital-acquired pneumonia in a US cost analysis . In cost-effectiveness analyses, all studies of intra-abdominal infections, pneumonia and febrile neutropenic episodes consistently reported lower costs per unit of effectiveness versus comparators . Piperacillin/tazobactam was dominant (greater efficacy and lower costs) versus imipenem/cilastatin in intra-abdominal infections and ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin or meropenem in pneumonia . Piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin was dominant over ceftazidime plus amikacin in the treatment of febrile neutropenic episodes . In a cost-effectiveness analysis of skin and soft tissue infection, piperacillin/tazobactam had lower costs per successfully treated patient than ceftriaxone or cefotaxime, but a slightly higher cost-effectiveness ratio than amoxicillin/clavulanic acid . All cost-effectiveness analyses were based on decision-analytical models . CONCLUSIONS: Piperacillin/tazobactam is likely to reduce overall treatment costs of moderate to severe bacterial infections by increasing initial treatment success, thereby reducing the length of hospital stay and the use of additional antibacterials . Piperacillin/tazobactam has shown clinical and economic advantages over standard antibacterial regimens in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections, LRTIs, febrile episodes in patients with neutropenia, and skin and soft tissue infections, although more complete published data are needed to confirm these results . Present data regarding clinical efficacy, bacterial resistance and costs would support the use of piperacillin/tazobactam as an empirical first-line option in moderate to severe bacterial infections. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 44(8), 49 - 56 The potential of anaerobic bacteria to degrade chlorinated compounds; van Eekert MH et al.; Chlorinated ethenes and chlorinated aromatics are often found as pollutants in sediments, groundwater, and wastewater . These compounds were long considered to be recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions . In the past years however, dechlorination of these compounds has been found to occur under anaerobic conditions at contaminated sites and in wastewater treatment systems . This dechlorination is mainly attributed to halo-respiring bacteria, which are able to couple this dechlorination to energy conservation via electron transport coupled phosphorylation . The dechlorinating activities of the halo-respiring bacteria seem to be confined to the dechlorination of chloroethenes and chlorinated aromatic compounds . In addition, methanogenic and acetogenic bacteria are also able to reduce the chlorinated ethenes via a-specific cometabolic pathways . Although these latter reactions may not be important in the remediation of contaminated sites, they may be of substantial influence in the start-up of remediation processes and in the application of granular sludge from UASB reactors . Specific halo-respiring bacteria may be used to increase the dechlorination activities via bioaugmentation in the case that the appropriate microorganisms are not present at the contaminated site or in the sludge. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 44(8), 41 - 8 Temperature characteristics of methanogenic archaea and acetogenic bacteria isolated from cold environments; Nozhevnikova AN et al.; In most terrestrial ecosystems of boreal and northern climate zones degradation of organic matter with methane production occurs at low temperature . Two psychrophilic methanogenic archaea and four acetogenic bacteria were described until now . Recently, we isolated 12 new strains of methanogenic archaea and 3 strains of acetogenic bacteria from different natural and man-made cold environments including tundra permafrost wet land, sediments of deep lakes, silt of sludge disposal pond, pig and cattle manure digested at 6 degrees C, and an anaerobic EGSB-reactor operated at 9 degrees C . The temperature characteristics of microorganisms isolated from cold environments are discussed . All isolates are able to grow below 10 degrees C, most of them grow at such low temperature as 1 degrees C . The upper temperature limit for most growing at low temperature acetogens is 30 degrees C, and the temperature optima is 20 degrees C and below . Most isolated methanogens have temperature optima around 25 degrees C, and upper temperature limits at 30-40 degrees C . Whether microorganisms able to grow at low temperature are classified as mesophiles, psychrophiles, or psychrotrophs (psychrotolerants) is an issue of this article . We propose to modify the basic temperature definition of anaerobic microorganisms growing at low temperature. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2001 Dec, 67(12), 5544 - 50 Sorption of Fe (hydr)oxides to the surface of Shewanella putrefaciens: cell-bound fine-grained minerals are not always formed de novo; Glasauer S et al.; Shewanella putrefaciens, a gram-negative, facultative anaerobe, is active in the cycling of iron through its interaction with Fe (hydr)oxides in natural environments . Fine-grained Fe precipitates that are attached to the outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria have most often been attributed to precipitation and growth of the mineral at the cell surface . Our study of the sorption of nonbiogenic Fe (hydr)oxides revealed, however, that large quantities of nanometer-scale ferrihydrite (hydrous ferric oxide), goethite (alpha-FeOOH), and hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)) adhered to the cell surface . Attempts to separate suspensions of cells and minerals with an 80% glycerin cushion proved that the sorbed minerals were tightly attached to the bacteria . The interaction between minerals and cells resulted in the formation of mineral-cell aggregates, which increased biomass density and provided better sedimentation of mineral Fe compared to suspensions of minerals alone . Transmission electron microscopy observations of cells prepared by whole-mount, conventional embedding, and freeze-substitution methods confirmed the close association between cells and minerals and suggested that in some instances, the mineral crystals had even penetrated the outer membrane and peptidoglycan layers . Given the abundance of these mineral types in natural environments, the data suggest that not all naturally occurring cell surface-associated minerals are necessarily formed de novo on the cell wall. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2001 Dec, 67(12), 5520 - 5 Benzoate fermentation by the anaerobic bacterium Syntrophus aciditrophicus in the absence of hydrogen-using microorganisms; Elshahed MS et al.; The anaerobic bacterium Syntrophus aciditrophicus metabolized benzoate in pure culture in the absence of hydrogen-utilizing partners or terminal electron acceptors . The pure culture of S . aciditrophicus produced approximately 0.5 mol of cyclohexane carboxylate and 1.5 mol of acetate per mol of benzoate, while a coculture of S . aciditrophicus with the hydrogen-using methanogen Methanospirillum hungatei produced 3 mol of acetate and 0.75 mol of methane per mol of benzoate . The growth yield of the S . aciditrophicus pure culture was 6.9 g (dry weight) per mol of benzoate metabolized, whereas the growth yield of the S . aciditrophicus-M . hungatei coculture was 11.8 g (dry weight) per mol of benzoate . Cyclohexane carboxylate was metabolized by S . aciditrophicus only in a coculture with a hydrogen user and was not metabolized by S . aciditrophicus pure cultures . Cyclohex-1-ene carboxylate was incompletely degraded by S . aciditrophicus pure cultures until a free energy change (DeltaG') of -9.2 kJ/mol was reached (-4.7 kJ/mol for the hydrogen-producing reaction) . Cyclohex-1-ene carboxylate, pimelate, and glutarate transiently accumulated at micromolar levels during growth of an S . aciditrophicus pure culture with benzoate . High hydrogen (10.1 kPa) and acetate (60 mM) levels inhibited benzoate metabolism by S . aciditrophicus pure cultures . These results suggest that benzoate fermentation by S . aciditrophicus in the absence of hydrogen users proceeds via a dismutation reaction in which the reducing equivalents produced during oxidation of one benzoate molecule to acetate and carbon dioxide are used to reduce another benzoate molecule to cyclohexane carboxylate, which is not metabolized further . Benzoate fermentation to acetate, CO(2), and cyclohexane carboxylate is thermodynamically favorable and can proceed at free energy values more positive than -20 kJ/mol, the postulated minimum free energy value for substrate metabolism. Eur J Biochem, 2001 Nov, 268(22), 5816 - 23 The NADH oxidase from Pyrococcus furiosus . Implications for the protection of anaerobic hyperthermophiles against oxidative stress; Ward DE et al.; A wealth of H(2)O-producing NADH oxidase (NOX) homologues have been discovered in the genomes of the hyperthermophilic Archaea, including two homologues in the genome of Pyrococcus furiosus which have been designated as NOX1 and NOX2 . In order to investigate the function of NOX1, the structural gene encoding NOX1 was cloned from the genome of P . furiosus and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the resulting recombinant enzyme (rNOX1) was purified to homogeneity . The enzyme is a thermostable flavoprotein that can be reconstituted only with FAD . rNOX1 catalyzes the oxidation of NADH, producing both H(2)O(2) and H(2)O as reduction products of O(2) (O(2) + 1-2NADH + 1-2H(+) --> 1-2NAD(+) + H(2)O(2) or 2H(2)O) . To our knowledge, this is the first NADH oxidase found to produce both H(2)O(2) and H(2)O . The enzyme exhibits a low K(m) for NADH (< 4 microm), and shows little or no reaction with NADPH . Transcriptional analyses demonstrated that NOX1 is constitutively expressed regardless of the carbon source and a single promoter was identified 25 bp upstream of the nox1 gene by primer extension . Although P . furiosus is a strict anaerobe, it may tolerate oxygen to some extent and we anticipate NOX1 to be involved in the response to oxygen at high temperatures. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2001 Nov, 185(5), 1156 - 61 The relationship between amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and funisitis; Park JS et al.; OBJECTIVE: The fetal inflammatory response syndrome is a multisystem disorder associated with impending preterm delivery and adverse neonatal outcome . Inflammation of the umbilical cord--funisitis--is the histologic counterpart of fetal inflammatory response syndrome and has been associated with an increased risk for the development of cerebral palsy . Neutrophils found in the amniotic cavity are of fetal origin . Therefore, neutrophil secretory products may be an index of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome . To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between levels of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and funisitis . STUDY DESIGN: The relationship between the presence of funisitis and concentrations of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 was examined in 255 consecutive patients who delivered preterm singleton neonates (gestational age, <36 weeks) within 72 hours of amniocentesis . Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and for mycoplasmas . Funisitis was diagnosed in the presence of neutrophil infiltration into the umbilical vessel walls or Wharton jelly . Matrix metalloproteinase-8 was measured by use of a specific immunoassay . Nonparametric statistics were used for analysis . RESULTS: Funisitis was present in 23% (59/255) of cases . Patients with funisitis had a significantly higher median concentration of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 than those without funisitis (median, 433.7 ng/mL {range, 1.5-3836.8 ng/mL} vs median, 1.9 ng/mL {range, <0.3-4202.7 ng/mL}; P <.001) . The diagnostic indices of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (cutoff, 23 ng/mL) in the identification of funisitis were: sensitivity of 90% (53/59), specificity of 78% (153/196), positive predictive value of 55% (53/96), and negative predictive value of 96% (153/159) . CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between increased levels of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 and funisitis . We propose that determination of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations may assist the assessment of the fetal inflammatory status, thereby eliminating the need for fetal blood sampling. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2001 Nov, 185(5), 1149 - 55 Amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 in preterm labor with intact membranes; Maymon E et al.; OBJECTIVE: Intra-amniotic inflammation is a major determinant of maternal and neonatal outcome in patients with preterm labor . Matrix metalloproteinase-8 is a sensitive marker of inflammation in body fluids . This study was conducted to examine the value of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 determinations in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes . STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid was obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis from 371 patients with preterm labor . Fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and Mycoplasmas . Amniotic fluid analysis included Gram stain examination, white blood cell count, and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) determination . Nonparametric statistics were used for analysis . RESULTS: The rate of preterm delivery was 54% (200/371) and that of intra-amniotic infection was 9.2% (34/371) . The median amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentration was more than 50-fold higher in patients with intra-amniotic infection than in patients with no intra-amniotic infection (median, 605.6 ng/mL; range, 0.65-15,000 ng/mL vs median, 10.6 ng/mL; range, <0.06-16,600 ng/mL, respectively; P <.0001) . The matrix metalloproteinase-8 amniotic fluid concentrations were significantly higher in patients who delivered preterm than in patients who delivered at term (median, 19.5 ng/mL; range, <0.06-16,600 ng/mL vs median, 2.1 ng/mL; range, <0.06-500 ng/mL, respectively; P <.001) . After exclusion of patients with intra-amniotic infection, patients who delivered preterm had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 than patients who delivered at term (P <.05) . An amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 level of >30 ng/mL was an independent predictor for the occurrence of neonatal morbidity (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.9-5.8; P <.01) . CONCLUSION: Increased amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations identify patients at risk for intra-amniotic infection, impending preterm delivery, and adverse neonatal outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2001 Nov, 185(5), 1143 - 8 Value of amniotic fluid neutrophil collagenase concentrations in preterm premature rupture of membranes; Maymon E et al.; OBJECTIVE: Neutrophils in amniotic fluid are thought to be of fetal origin, and therefore the detection of these cells and/or their products in amniotic fluid may reflect the fetal inflammatory status . We propose that amniotic fluid neutrophil collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-8) is a useful parameter to predict adverse neonatal outcome, impending preterm labor/delivery, and intrauterine infection in the setting of preterm premature rupture of the membranes . STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid was obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis from 101 patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (gestational age, 24-36 weeks) . Fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and Mycoplasmas . Amniotic fluid analysis included Gram stain, white blood cell count, and determination of interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) . RESULTS: Neonates with adverse neonatal outcome were born to mothers with a significantly higher median amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentration than those without adverse neonatal outcome (median, 54.4 ng/mL; range, 0.82-14,500 ng/mL vs median, 28.9 ng/mL; range, 0.78-2451.8 ng/mL; P <.05, respectively) . The higher the amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations, the shorter the interval to delivery (Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for gestational age at delivery; hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5; P <.03) . Amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentration was more sensitive than an amniotic fluid white blood cell count and interleukin-6 in the detection of microbiologically proven intra-amniotic infection . CONCLUSION: Increased concentrations of neutrophil collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-8) in amniotic fluid are associated with intra-amniotic infection, impending preterm delivery, and adverse neonatal outcome in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes . Moreover, matrix metalloproteinase-8 in amniotic fluid is a stronger predictor for the duration of pregnancy and intra-amniotic inflammation than interleukin-6 and an amniotic fluid white blood cell count. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2001 Nov, 185(5), 1130 - 6 Clinical significance of intra-amniotic inflammation in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes; Yoon BH et al.; OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and clinical significance of intraamniotic inflammation in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes . STUDY DESIGN: Amniocentesis was performed in 206 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes . Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycoplasmas . The diagnosis of intraamniotic inflammation was made in patients with a negative amniotic fluid culture on the basis of amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin-6 (>2.6 ng/mL, derived from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis) . Statistical analysis was conducted with contingency tables and survival techniques . RESULTS: Intra-amniotic inflammation (negative amniotic fluid culture but elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-6) was more common than intra-amniotic infection (positive amniotic fluid culture regardless of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 concentration; 21% {44/206 women} vs 10% {21/206 women}; P <.001) . The amniocentesisto-delivery interval was significantly shorter in patients with intra-amniotic inflammation than in patients with a negative culture and without an inflammation (median, 20 hours {range, 0.1-2328 hours} vs median, 701 hours {range, 0.1-3252 hours}, respectively; P <.0001) . Spontaneous preterm delivery of <37 weeks was more frequent in patients with intra-amniotic inflammation than in those with a negative culture and without inflammation (98% vs 35%; P <.001) . Patients with intra-amniotic inflammation had a significantly higher rate of adverse outcome than patients with a negative culture and without intra-amniotic inflammation . Adverse outcomes included clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis, funisitis, early preterm birth, and significant neonatal morbidity . There were no significant differences in the rate of adverse outcomes between patients with a negative culture but with intra-amniotic inflammation and patients with intra-amniotic infection (positive culture regardless of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 concentration) . CONCLUSION: Intra-amniotic inflammation/infection complicates one third of the patients with preterm labor (32%; 65/206 women), and its presence is a risk factor for adverse outcome . The outcome of patients with microbiologically proven intra-amniotic infection is similar to that of patients with intra-amniotic inflammation and a negative amniotic fluid culture . We propose that the treatment of patients in preterm labor be based on the operational diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation rather than the diagnosis of intra-amniotic infection because the latter diagnosis cannot be undertaken rapidly. J Bacteriol, 2001 Dec, 183(24), 7007 - 16 H(2)O(2)-forming NADH oxidase with diaphorase (cytochrome) activity from Archaeoglobus fulgidus; Reed DW et al.; An enzyme exhibiting NADH oxidase (diaphorase) activity was isolated from the hyperthermophilic sulfate-reducing anaerobe Archaeoglobus fulgidus . N-terminal sequence of the protein indicates that it is coded for by open reading frame AF0395 in the A . fulgidus genome . The gene AF0395 was cloned and its product was purified from Escherichia coli . Like the native NADH oxidase (NoxA2), the recombinant NoxA2 (rNoxA2) has an apparent molecular mass of 47 kDa, requires flavin adenine dinucleotide for activity, has NADH-specific activity, and is thermostable . Hydrogen peroxide is the product of bivalent oxygen reduction by rNoxA2 with NADH . The rNoxA2 is an oxidase with diaphorase activity in the presence of electron acceptors such as tetrazolium and cytochrome c . During purification NoxA2 remains associated with the enzyme responsible for D-lactate oxidation, the D-lactate dehydrogenase (Dld), and the genes encoding NoxA2 and Dld are in the same transcription unit . Together these results suggest that NADH oxidase may be involved in electron transfer reactions resulting in sulfate respiration. Vopr Onkol, 2001, 47(4), 475 - 7 {Factors for individualization of treating postoperative wound complications in stomach cancer patients}; Levanov AV; Since gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms constitute at present the largest fraction of microflora in surgical patients, the chances of their translocation from the intestines due to impaired anticolonization resistance of the body are becoming stronger . Evidence is presented to demonstrate the dynamics of postoperative infestation of wounds in patients operated on for stomach cancer. J Dent Res, 2001 Oct, 80(10), 1930 - 4 The localization of periodontal-disease-associated bacteria in human periodontal pockets; Noiri Y et al.; Some Gram-negative anaerobes are associated with the incidence and progression of periodontal disease . In periodontal pockets, however, the localization of those bacteria is unknown . We investigated the localization of 5 bacterial species in human periodontal pockets . Fifteen teeth with a part of periodontal pockets from 10 adult periodontitis patients were obtained, and the localization of bacteria was examined immunohistochemically . Positive reactions with anti-Prevotella nigrescens antibody were located at the epithelium-associated plaque area in the middle pocket zones . In the middle and deep pocket zones, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Treponema denticola were especially localized in the unattached plaque area, but Eikenella corrodens was observed in the tooth-attached plaque area . Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, detected in 2 of 15 samples examined, was found in the unattached plaque area, in the middle pocket zone . The present findings indicated that the 5 bacterial species examined localized at distinct regions in human periodontal pockets. Niger J Med, 2001 Jan-Mar, 10(1), 6 - 10 Necrotising fasciitis of the head and neck: a review of the literature; Ugboko VI et al.; Necrotising fasciitis is a severe life threatening bacterial infection of the fascial planes which is relatively rare in the head and neck region . The hallmark of the disease is selective necrosis of the fascia overlying skin and adjacent vasculature . Primary odontogenic infection due to aerobes and obligate anaerobes and trauma amongst other factors, are frequently responsible for this condition . Similarly, affected individuals often have an underlying systemic disease, the most common of which is diabetes mellitus . Treatment usually involves appropriate antimicrobial therapy, control of systemic disease, thorough surgical debridement, gamma globulin administration and hyperbaric oxygen where facilities exist . Significant morbidity and mortality attends necrotising fasciitis when treatment is delayed due to toxaemia, dehydration and severe biochemical disturbances . Prompt diagnosis, adequate resuscitation, thorough and frequent surgical debridement remains the cornerstone to a successful outcome. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 44(5), 295 - 301 Kinetics of decolorization and mineralization of the azo dye reactive black 5 by hydrogen peroxide and UV light; El-Dein AM et al.; C.I . Reactive Black 5 is one of the most used reactive dyes for textile finishing . It is a diazo dye, which can be decolorized by facultative anaerobic bacteria, sulfate reducing bacteria and aerobic white rot fungi . Mineralization by microorganisms has proven difficult . Advanced oxidation processes are promising alternatives for the decolorization and mineralization of Reactive Black 5, alone and in combination with aerobic biodegradation . The kinetics of the decolorization of Reactive Black 5 using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation have been investigated . The rate of decolorization is first order with respect to dye concentration . It is enhanced with increasing hydrogen peroxide concentrations up to an optimum value . In our model we have correlated an empirical reaction rate expression which considers the contribution of both hydrogen peroxide and UV flux radiation based on the reaction kinetics . This empirical correlation agrees well with the experimental data for these conditions . Complete decolorization corresponded with 40-50% mineralization of the dye . Further mineralization can be achieved with extended radiation time. Ther Umsch, 2001 Oct, 58(10), 599 - 603 {Diagnosis and therapy of abscess forming pneumonia}; Allewelt M et al.; Aspiration of oro-pharyngeal secretions and gastric content is the most frequent cause of formation of primary lung abscess . A compromised mental status (e.g . alcoholism, sedatives, stroke) and esophageal dysfunction (e.g . herniation, vomiting) are important risk factors . Aspiration pneumonia presents as a subacute disease and is usually not distinguishable from other causes of pneumonia, until typical radiological signs of cavitation and putrid sputum appear 8 to 14 days after the initial event of aspiration . Anaerobic bacteria play a pivotal role in an almost exclusively mixed spectrum of causative organisms . Aerobic pathogens are also frequently isolated, but whether they are an active part of infection or merely represent colonizers remains unclear in many instances . Differential diagnosis includes bronchial neoplasms, either as necrotizing carcinoma or as the cause of poststenotic cavernous pneumonia, other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or endocarditis with septic metastases, and lung artery embolism or vasculitis (M . Wegener) . Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is extremely helpful in determining cause and etiology of the disease and should be carried out in all patients presenting with cavernous lung lesions . Bacteriological sampling should be performed using protected specimen brushing (PSB) technique . Broncho-alveolar lavage might serve as a less expensive but also less sensitive alternative measure . Since anaerobic bacteria resemble ubiquitous commensals of the oral cavity, sputum is of no use in anaerobic culture . Principal therapeutic strategy is antibiotic therapy for an extended period, usually four weeks to four months, unless radiologic changes and as well laboratory as clinical indicators of infection are completely resolved . Clindamycin, optionally supplemented with a second or third generation cephalosporin and Ampicillin/Sulbactam proved equally effective in treating aspiration pneumonia and primary lung abscess . The role of Moxifloxacin and other new flouroquinolones with their favorable pharmacodynamics is currently evaluated . Provided that antibiotics are prescribed for a sufficient period of time and patients' compliance is ensured, surgical procedures are limited to a negligible number of complications, e.g . recurrent severe hemoptysis, empyema or broncho-pleural fistula. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2001, 36(9), 1661 - 70 An improved method of hydrogen production as electron donor for anaerobic bioremediation; Zhang XH et al.; This paper investigated an improved electrochemical approach that is able to provide hydrogen for anaerobic bioremediation of chloroethenes in subsurface . Hydrogen is the ultimate electron donor of biodechlorination processes . In experiments, iron wire was used as electrodes, an anaerobic bacteria enrichment collected from a site contaminated with chloroethenes as test microbes, perchloroethylene (PCE) as model chloroethene . Experiments were conducted by switching the polarities of electrodes periodically and supplying electrical power in an intermittent way . The results showed that an electrochemical bioreactor that was switched 1 time/10 min and operated only 8 h a day was able to produce more hydrogen than that operated 24h a day at 0.4V without polarity switching, stimulating microbial growth more effectively . The intermittent operation also resulted in periodical release of overpotentials that built up on electrode surfaces, thus prevented charged ions and particles from attaching on electrodes . The hydrogen produced was available for microbial growth and PCE dechlorination . It is suggested that the improved electrochemical process developed in this study has significant implications to anaerobic bioremediation. Klin Khir, 2001 Jul, (7), 5 - 10 {Enteral insufficiency syndrome in acute ileus and ways for its correction}; Saienko VF et al.; Based on experimental investigations in 26 mongrel dogs, we established that due to acute ileus (AI) proximal and distal regions of small intestine are colonized by pathogenic aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, which causes occurrence of enteral insufficiency syndrome (EIS) . Absorption of microorganisms and their toxins through intestinal wall leads to bacteriemia, endotoxemia and morphological insufficiency of parenchymatous organs . The results of treatment of 486 patients with AI of different etiology are studied . Based on clinical and diagnostical changes 4 stages of EIS are separated . The rate of post-operative complications depends on severity of EIS . When treating the patients with AI the severity of EIS should be taken into consideration . Specific pre-operative preparation, the relevant technology of surgical intervention and post-operative treatment should be used differently at every stage of the disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2001 Nov, 15(11), 1827 - 36 Effects of anti-tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-10 and antibiotic therapy in the indometacin-induced bowel inflammation rat model; Colpaert S et al.; BACKGROUND: The administration of indometacin to rats increases intestinal permeability and induces inflammatory pathology of the small bowel . This represents a potential model for Crohn's disease . AIMS: To analyse the pathogenic role of T cells, tumour necrosis factor and bacterial flora in indometacin-induced changes in small bowel permeability and inflammation . METHODS: Rats were given indometacin, 13 mg/kg, on day 1 and day 2 . The effects of antibiotic (metronidazole, aztreonam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), anti- tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-10 therapy were evaluated . The parameters used were weight change, serum haemoglobin, chromium-51 ethylenediaminetetra-acetate permeability and macro-and microscopic score on day 5 . Results in conventionally harboured rats were compared with those in T-cell-free rats . Additional in vitro experiments were carried out to test the effect of metronidazole on tumour necrosis factor production . RESULTS: Indometacin administration resulted in small bowel ulcers and inflammation, independently of T cells . Metronidazole was more potent than amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and anti-tumour necrosis factor in improving the indometacin-induced small bowel inflammation . Only part of the efficacy was through improvement of increased intestinal permeability . Aztreonam and interleukin-10 had no effect . Metronidazole also suppressed in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced tumour necrosis factor production, suggesting a therapeutic effect of this drug through the inhibition of tumour necrosis factor . CONCLUSIONS: These data implicate anaerobic bacteria and tumour necrosis factor production, but not T cells, as essential elements of the pathogenesis of indometacin-induced small bowel inflammation . Tumour necrosis factor is also involved in the change in intestinal permeability . Metronidazole was the most efficacious drug in this model, probably because it suppressed anaerobic bacteria and directly inhibited tumour necrosis factor production. Curr Microbiol, 2001 Oct, 43(4), 293 - 8 Identification of a broad-specificity xylosidase/arabinosidase important for xylooligosaccharide fermentation by the ruminal anaerobe Selenomonas ruminantium GA192; Whitehead TR et al.; Strains of Selenomonas ruminantium vary considerably in their capacity to ferment xylooligosaccharides . This ability ranges from strain GA192, which completely utilized xylose through xylotetraose and was able to ferment considerable quantities of larger oligosaccharides, to strain HD4, which used only the simple sugars present in the hydrolysate . The ability of S . ruminantium GA192 to utilize xylooligosaccharides was correlated with the presence of xylosidase and arabinosidase activities . The production of these activities appears to be regulated in response to carbon source used for growth . Both arabinosidase and xylosidase were induced by growth on xylose or xylooligosaccharides, but no activity was detected in glucose-or arabinose-grown cultures . A genetic locus from S . ruminantium GA192 was cloned into Escherichia coli JM83 that produced both xylosidase and arabinosidase activities . Analyses of crude extracts from the E . coli clone and S . ruminantium GA192 by using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and methylumbelliferyl substrates indicated that a single protein was responsible for both activities . The enzyme expressed in E . coli was capable of degrading xylooligosaccharides derived from xylan . DNA sequencing of the locus demonstrated the presence of an open reading frame that encodes for a protein of 61,174 molecular weight. Ross Gastroenterol Zh, 2001, (2), 92 - 102 {Disturbance of liver functions and dysbiosis in patients with lipid distress syndrome and its treatment with lactulose preparation "Duphalac" (lactulose)}; Petukhov VA et al.; Disturbances of liver's functions and its connection with microflora pathology of large intestine were examined in the patients with lipid dysstress-syndrome . Severe dysbiosis (reduce of light fatty acids level and increase of anaerobe index) was revealed . Efficiency of "Dufalak" (lactulose disaccharide) on liver's functions was estimated. Diabet Med, 2001 Oct, 18(10), 822 - 7 Deep tissue biopsy vs . superficial swab culture monitoring in the microbiological assessment of limb-threatening diabetic foot infection; Pellizzer G et al.; AIMS : The results of ulcer swabbing vs . deep tissue biopsy have been compared prospectively in 29 diabetic patients with limb-threatening foot infection, to investigate the effectiveness and reliability of each method, and to evaluate whether any of the two could be more suitable for the microbiological follow-up of severe lesions . METHODS : Microbiological samples were collected by using both methods at fixed intervals after therapy commencement (i.e . at day 0, 7, 14, and 30) . Statistical comparison was performed between the results of each sampling procedure after the end of follow-up . RESULTS : At enrolment, the mean number of isolates per patient was 2.34 by swabbing and 2.07 by tissue biopsy sampling; the rate of isolation for anaerobes with the two methods was 35% and 25%, respectively; no statistical differences could be observed between the two procedures in terms of either species or frequency of isolation . Anaerobic species were never detected after the first 2 weeks of appropriate treatment, and those ulcers which were still active at day 30 yielded almost exclusively Gram-positive bacteria . At the end of follow-up, deep tissue cultures appeared to exhibit a higher diagnostic sensitivity with respect to swabs . CONCLUSIONS : Swabbing and deep tissue cultures appear to be equally reliable for the initial monitoring of antimicrobial treatment in severe diabetic foot infection . However, our experience seems to suggest that deep tissue might be more sensitive than swabbing for monitoring those isolates that have been selected for antibiotic resistance, i.e . those from ulcers that are still active after 30 days of treatment. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Jul, 27(1), 11 - 7 Anaerobic biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in mixtures containing cadmium by two physiologically distinct microbial enrichment cultures; Kamashwaran SR et al.; Anaerobic biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP), in mixtures containing cadmium (Cd), by sulfidogenic (SRB) and methanogenic (MET) enrichment cultures, was studied . Removal of 91-93% of PCP occurred in both SRB- and MET-enriched cultures, in the absence of Cd, within 82 days . The presence of soluble Cd initially decreased the rate of PCP removal by the enrichment cultures, but PCP removal rates improved as the Cd precipitated . GC-MS, 14C-PCP, and 13C-PCP studies confirmed mineralization of PCP by both enrichment cultures, as well as the incorporation of PCP carbon into specific phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) of the cell membranes of PCP-degrading anaerobes . This is the first report on anaerobic biodegradation of PCP by SRB- and MET-enriched cultures in the presence, with simultaneous precipitation, of the toxic heavy metal Cd, and of the incorporation of PCP carbons into specific PLFAs of the anaerobic bacterial cells. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2001 Sep, 51(Pt 5), 1881 - 9 Helicobacter ganmani sp . nov., a urease-negative anaerobe isolated from the intestines of laboratory mice; Robertson BR et al.; Spiral bacteria were isolated from the intestines of laboratory mice during a study examining the presence of Helicobacter species and other spiral organisms naturally infecting mice maintained at four different animal facilities in Sydney, Australia . One group of 17 isolates, cultured from mice from three of the four facilities, were found to be helicobacters but did not fall within any of the 18 currently recognized species . These isolates were unusual in that they only grew anaerobically at 37 degrees C and were incapable of growth under microaerobic conditions . Like Helicobacter rodentium, isolates possessed single, bipolar, unsheathed flagella and were urease-negative . They were positive for oxidase and reduced nitrate to nitrite but did not hydrolyse hippurate or indoxyl acetate, grew on charcoal agar and were resistant to cephalothin . 16S rDNA sequences from four strains were determined and found to be identical to one another . H . rodentium was the most closely related species in terms of 16S rDNA sequence similarity (98.2%) . Numerical analysis of whole-cell proteins by SDS-PAGE for nine isolates was carried out with a comparison to all known Helicobacter species, including newly determined profiles from three H . rodentium strains . The new isolates were clearly differentiated from H . rodentium and other Helicobacter spp . On the basis of this data, including genetic, biochemical and protein analysis, it is proposed that these isolates belong to Helicobacter ganmani sp . nov . (type strain CMRI H02T = CCUG 43526T = CIP 106846T). Khirurgiia (Mosk), 2001, (9), 47 - 9 {Optimization of surgical treatment of suppurative-necrotic lesions of the foot in patients with diabetes mellitus}; Karimov ShI et al.; The analysis of treatment results in 559 patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by foot pyonecrotic lesions was carried out . Surgical treatment was performed in 448 patients considering route of infection spread (basic group), conventional methods of treatment were used in 111 patients (control group) . It is shown that one of the causes of unsuccessful treatment results was the infection spread from foot to leg by toes tendons and synovial sheaths . The study of microbial contamination in wound exudate, distal and proximal sites of tendons revealed a significant difference in proximal-distal gradient for aerobes (2.8 +/- 0.19 lg/g) and anaerobes (1.71 +/- 0.16 lg/g, p < 0.01) . Methods of surgical treatment of foot pyonecrotic lesions allowing for route of infection in patients with diabetes mellitus were developed . Use of these methods allowed to decrease more than 2 times the number of femoral amputations, and to increase the rate of surgical interventions with salvage of limb's support function from 71.2 to 87.7%. Water Sci Technol, 2001, 44(4), 117 - 22 Biodegradation of 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane under methanogenic conditions; Culubret EN et al.; Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons are widely used as solvents and as intermediates in chemical synthesis, so they can be found in industrial wastewaters and released to the environment where they became a serious health risk due to their toxic properties and high chemical stability . Most of these compounds are xenobiotic and recalcitrant to biodegradation . In this article we report the effect of different co-substrates in the 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane (1,1,1,2-TeCA) degradation by anaerobic granular sludge, and its degradative pathway . Our results show that this compound is easy and rapidly biodegradable under methanogenic conditions, even in the absence of external electron donors . 1,1,1,2-TeCA is equimolecularly degraded to 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) by reductive dichloroelimination . 1,1-DCE is only completely biodegraded in the presence of lactic acid as co-substrate . Although 1,1,1,2-TeCA can be apparently removed by autoclaved granular sludge, the compound is not transformed but retained inside the granules . The primary biodegradation of 1,1,1,2-TeCE to 1,1-DCE is a biotic process mediated by anaerobic bacteria. J Clin Microbiol, 2001 Oct, 39(10), 3555 - 62 Identification of clinical isolates of actinomyces species by amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis; Hall V et al.; Amplified 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) restriction analysis (ARDRA), using enzymes HaeIII and HpaII, was applied to 176 fresh and 299 stored clinical isolates of putative Actinomyces spp . referred to the Anaerobe Reference Unit of the Public Health Laboratory Service for confirmation of identity . Results were compared with ARDRA results obtained previously for reference strains and with conventional phenotypic reactions . Identities of some strains were confirmed by analysis of partial 16S rDNA sequences . Of the 475 isolates, 331 (70%) were clearly assigned to recognized Actinomyces species, including 94 isolates assigned to six recently described species . A further 52 isolates in 12 ARDRA profiles were designated as apparently resembling recognized species, and 44 isolates, in 18 novel profiles, were confirmed as members of genera other than Actinomyces . The identities of 48 isolates in nine profiles remain uncertain, and they may represent novel species of Actinomyces . For the majority of species, phenotypic results, published reactions for the species, and ARDRA profiles concurred . However, of 113 stored isolates originally identified as A . meyeri or resembling A . meyeri by phenotypic tests, only 21 were confirmed as A . meyeri by ARDRA; 63 were reassigned as A . turicensis, 7 as other recognized species, and 22 as unidentified actinomycetes . Analyses of incidence and clinical associations of Actinomyces spp . add to the currently sparse knowledge of some recently described species. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2001 Jul-Aug, (4), 93 - 5 {Etiology and systemic immunity disturbances in patients with tuboperitoneal infertility}; Teplova SN et al.; The etiological structure of the inflammatory diseases of genitals at different levels of the reproductive tract of women with tuboperitoneal sterility was studied . The study revealed the prevalence of cocci in the cervical canal, anaerobes in the endometrium and chlamydiae in the abdominal cavity (peritoneal fluid, the ovarian capsule, fimbriated ends), as well as the presence of mixed infection in 27% of the patients under study . The specific features of immunity in women with tuboperitoneal sterility were established, which determined the main trends of the subsequent pathogenetically oriented immunocorrection. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2001 Jul-Aug, (4), 78 - 84 {Anaerobic microflora of the female reproductive tract}; Valyshev AV et al.; The microflora of the female reproductive tract is very diverse and plays an important role in both normal and pathological states . The data on the mechanisms of colonization resistance which involve the vaginal microbios (the production of H2O2, organic acids, bacteriocin-like substances, competition for adhesion sites) are presented . The data on the role of individual antagonistically active substances of anaerobic bacteria in suppressing gonococci, fungi, microorganisms, associated with bacterial vaginosis, etc . are given . The leading role of anaerobic microorganisms in the appearance of microecological disturbances, including bacterial vaginosis, is emphasized . The role of the pathogenic properties of anaerobic bacteria for the development of different pathological processes, such as premature birth, postnatal and postoperative purulent septic diseases, inflammation of pelvic organs, cancer of the neck of uterus, is discussed. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2001 Jul, 22(4), 100 - 3 {Biodegradation of reactive turquoise blue}; Fu L et al.; In this study, the anaerobic degradation and the aerobic degradation of a kind of reactive dye--Reactive Turquoise Blue(RTB) were compared . The results proved that anaerobic sludge could only decompose RTB in the presence of glucose while aerobic sludge decomposed RTB with or without the presence of glucose (RTB of 20 mg/L was reduced by 37.4% through 24 hours' aerobic treatment with RTB as sole carbon source) . The enhancement of glucose concentration was beneficial for both anaerobic and aerobic degradation of RTB: the anaerobic and the aerobic removal efficiencies were respectively 81.5% and 73.6% with RTB of 20 mg/L and glucose of 1200 mg/L . In the influent RTB concentration also had influence on the activity of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms . When glucose concentration was 800 mg/L or 1200 mg/L and RTB concentration was 20 mg/L to 100 mg/L, anaerobic removal efficiency of RTB was higher than aerobic removal efficiency by 4.9%-27.2%, which meant that anaerobic bacteria is more powerful than aerobic bacteria in terms of RTB removal. Mikrobiologiia, 2001 Jul-Aug, 70(4), 459 - 64 {Difference in ionic specificity of ATP synthesis in extremely alkalophilic sulfate-reducing and acetogenic bacteria}; Pitriuk AV et al.; Ionic specificity of oxidative phosphorylation was studied in Natroniella acetigena and Desulfonatronum lacustre, which are new alkaliphilic anaerobes that were isolated from soda lakes and have a pH growth optimum of 9.5-9.7 . The ability of their cells to synthesize ATP in response to the imposition of artificial delta pH+ and delta pNa+ gradients was studied . As distinct from other marine and freshwater sulfate reducers and extremely alkaliphilic anaerobes, D . lacustre uses a Na(+)-translocating ATPase for ATP synthesis . The alkaliphilic acetogen N . acetigena, which develops at a much higher Na+ concentration in the medium, generated primary delta pH+ for ATP synthesis . Thus, the high Na+ concentrations and alkaline pH values typical of soda lakes do not predetermine the type of bioenergetics of their inhabitants. J Endod, 2001 Sep, 27(9), 563 - 6 Molecular detection of black-pigmented bacteria in infections of endodontic origin; Siqueira JF Jr et al.; A 16S rDNA-directed polymerase chain reaction method was used to assess the occurrence of four black-pigmented anaerobic rods in root canal infections . Samples were obtained from 54 infected teeth . Ten cases were diagnosed as acute periradicular abscesses . DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-based identification assay . The method allowed detection of black-pigmented bacteria anaerobes in 59.3% of the examined teeth . Twelve cases yielded more than one black-pigmented species . In general Porphyromonas endodontalis was found in 42.6%, Porphyromonas gingivalis in 27.8%, Prevotella nigrescens in 7.4%, and Prevotella intermedia in 5.6% of the cases . P . endodontalis was found in 70% of the pus samples, P . gingivalis in 40%, and P . intermedia in 10% . P . gingivalis was always found associated with P . endodontalis in abscessed teeth . P . nigrescens was not found in any pus sample . The high prevalence of P . endodontalis and P . gingivalis suggests that they can play an important role in the pathogenesis of periradicular diseases. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2001 Aug, 56(3-4), 524 - 30 Degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) by co-immobilization of anaerobic and aerobic microbial communities in an upflow reactor under air-limited conditions; Gardin H et al.; The co-immobilization and the culture of anaerobic and aerobic communities was tested for the mineralization of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) . At first, the anaerobic microorganisms (aggregated into granules) were cultivated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, in a continuous mode, with glucose, propionate, acetate (COD loading rate = 0.5-2.0 g COD/l per day, ratio 1:1:1) and 2,4,6-TCP (2,4,6-TCP loading rate = 25-278 micromol/l per day) as substrates . 2,4,6-TCP was degraded into 2,4-DCP and 4-CP, but it was not mineralized because of the low degradation rates of 4-CP . Furthermore, the highest loading rates of 2,4,6-TCP (>126 micromol/l per day) caused the inhibition of the strains degrading the propionate . The granules were therefore tested in association with the aerobic community . They were immobilized in kappa-carrageenan/gelatin {2% (w/w) of each polymer} gel beads and cultivated in a reactor, on their own (to test the influence of the gel), and then with the aerobic community, under anaerobic and air-limited conditions, respectively . The results showed that (1) the gel did not influence the activity of the granules, (2) the anaerobic and aerobic communities could be easily co-immobilized in gel beads and cultivated in a reactor, (3) the mineralization of 2,4,6-TCP (2,4,6-TCP loading rate = 10-506 micromol/l per day), its intermediates of degradation and the other substrates {glucose + acetate + propionate (ratio 1:1:1) = COD loading rate = 500 mg COD/l per day} could be obtained under air-limited conditions if the culture parameters were strictly controlled {airflow = 36-48 vvd (volume of air/volume of liquid in the reactor per day), pH value at around 7.5} . Finally, the gel did not retain its structure during the whole culture (263 days) in the air-limited reactor, but the anaerobic and aerobic communities retained their activities and worked together for the mineralization. Appl Radiat Isot, 2001 Oct, 55(4), 427 - 31 Effect of pH and temperature on the sorption of Np and Pa to mixed anaerobic bacteria; Sasaki T et al.; While considering the geological disposal of radioactive wastes, the behaviour of the radionuclide Np and its daughter element Pa was investigated in the presence of a mixture of anaerobic bacteria (MAB) . Originally, MAB were used for the treatment of pulp and paper wastewater . The interaction between radionuclides and bacteria was evaluated by determining distribution coefficients (Kd) over 10 days and at 5 degrees C and 35 degrees C . Kd for Np at 35 degrees C after 5 days had a low value around 10(-2) After 10 days, however, Kd was > 100-fold higher . On the other hand, Kd at 5 degrees C was low (10(-2)) throughout, without any significant increase over time . The interaction between Pa and MAB was found to be stronger than that for Np, with Kd for Pa about 100 times higher . The Kd was controlled by some basic factors, the activity of MAB, the complexing capacity of MAB, and the chemical conditions in the solution such as pH and Eh. Biol Sci Space, 1994 Jun, 8(2), 103 - 13 {Development of detection system of extraterrestrial microorganisms}; Kawasaki Y; A noble method for the exploration of terrestrial and extraterrestrial soil microorganisms, especially targeted for Mars, has been developed . The method is based on the microscopic observation using fluorescence techniques . Microorganisms could be fluorescent by adsorption, enzymatic cleavage of extrinsic fluorescence chromophores such as acridine orange, ANS and SFDA, and also by intrinsic chromophores . The characteristic points of our fluorescence method are shown below . 1 . The present method detected all the culturable cells tested (about 200 species from bacteria to eukaryofic cells) . 2 . Microorganisms in soil were much brighter than background fluorescence of soil . Cell shapes and location were clearly observed . 3 . An esterase substatum SFDA, discriminated vital (reproductive) cells from dead . On the other hand, a membrane probe, ANS, detected both vital and dead cells . 3 . Pre-treatment of cells with bleaching reagents improved the detection efficiency . Especially, this pretreatment was effecfive in Fungi with black chromophores . 4 . Some anaerobic microorganisms such as methanogenic bacteria with intrinsic chromophores can be detected without stain . 5 . Application of the technique to terrestrial soil revealed that more than 100 times larger cell density was obtained compared to the value obtained by the classic plate counting technique . Vertical distribution of microorganism of soil microorganisms from Mt . Shigayama showed that, at surface, cell density was small and maximum was shown below 15 cm from surface . 6 . Some pre-biotic cell (cell like aggregates composed of amino acids) could be detected by SFDA or ANS . It can be concluded that the fluorescence technique is one of the most promising method for the exploration of extraterrestrial microorganisms. Deep Sea Res A, 1989, 36(1), 121 - 38 Sulfate reduction and oxic respiration in marine sediments: implications for organic carbon preservation in euxinic environments; Canfield DE; Compilations have been made of sulfate reduction rates and oxic respiration rates over the entire range of marine sedimentation rates, and sedimentary environments, including several euxinic sites . These data show, consistent with the findings of Jorgensen (1982, Nature, 296, 643-645), that sulfate reduction and oxic respiration oxidize equal amounts of organic carbon in nearshore sediments . As sedimentation rates decrease, oxic respiration, becomes progressively more important, and in deep-sea sediments 100-1000 times more organic carbon is oxidized by oxic respiration than by sulfate reduction . By contrast, nearly as much organic carbon is oxidized by sulfate reduction in euxinic sediments as is oxidized by the sum of sulfate reduction and oxic respiration in normal marine sediments of similar deposition rate . This observation appears at odds with the enhanced preservation of organic carbon observed in euxinic sediments . However, only small reductions in (depth-integrated) organic carbon decomposition rates (compared to normal marine) are required to give both high organic carbon concentrations and enhanced carbon preservation in euxinic sediments . Lower rates of organic carbon decomposition (if only by subtle amounts) are explained by the diminished ability of anaerobic bacteria to oxidize the full suite of sedimentary organic compounds. Geomicrobiol J, 1985, 4(1), 21 - 51 Microbial biomass and productivity in seagrass beds; Moriarty DJ et al.; Different methods for measuring the rates of processes mediated by bacteria in sediments and the rates of bacterial cell production have been compared . In addition, net production of the seagrass Zostera capricorni and bacterial production have been compared and some interrelationships with the nitrogen cycle discussed . Seagrass productivity was estimated by measuring the plastochrone interval using a leaf stapling technique . The average productivity over four seasons was 1.28 +/- 0.28 g C m-2 day-1 (mean +/- standard deviation, n = 4) . Bacterial productivity was measured five times throughout a year using the rate of tritiated thymidine incorporated into DNA . Average values were 33 +/- 12 mg C m-2 day-1 for sediment and 23 +/- 4 for water column (n = 5) . Spatial variability between samples was greater than seasonal variation for both seagrass productivity and bacterial productivity . On one occasion, bacterial productivity was measured using the rate of 32P incorporated into phospholipid . The values were comparable to those obtained with tritiated thymidine . The rate of sulfate reduction was 10 mmol SO4(-2) m-2 day-1 . The rate of methanogenesis was low, being 5.6 mg CH4 produced m-2 day-1 . A comparison of C flux measured using rates of sulfate reduction and DNA synthesis indicated that anaerobic processes were predominant in these sediments . An analysis of microbial biomass and community structure, using techniques of phospholipid analysis, showed that bacteria were predominant members of the microbial biomass and that of these, strictly anaerobic bacteria were the main components . Ammonia concentration in interstitial water varied from 23 to 71 micromoles . Estimates of the amount of ammonia required by seagrass showed that the ammonia would turn over about once per day . Rapid recycling of nitrogen by bacteria and bacterial grazers is probably important. Eur J Biochem, 2001 Sep, 268(17), 4748 - 57 Identification of a novel heterodimeric outer membrane protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting; Veith PD et al.; Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium associated with chronic periodontitis . A 2D electrophoretic analysis of the outer membrane of P . gingivalis W50 revealed a dominant train of spots at 40-41 kDa . The proteins in the train of spots were digested in-gel with trypsin and identified by MS . The train of spots represented two proteins, designated Omp40 and Omp41 that share 47% sequence identity . Preparation of outer membranes in the absence of protease inhibitors resulted in partial cleavage of Omp40 and Omp41 to produce an N-terminal and C-terminal fragment of both proteins . The N-terminal fragments displayed the same isoelectric heterogeneity as the intact proteins . Almost 100% of the amino-acid sequence of these N-terminal fragments in each 2D gel spot was verified suggesting lack of post-translational modification . Re-subjecting a single N-terminal domain spot to 2D electrophoresis resulted in the complete series of spots being reproduced, suggesting that the heterogeneity was related to conformational equilibria . Under reduced conditions and without heating, Omp40 and Omp41 migrated as 34- to 35-kDa proteins in SDS/PAGE whereas under nonreduced conditions the proteins migrated as 70-kDa proteins, suggesting the formation of dimers through intersubunit disulfide bonds . The proteins each contain two cysteine residues in the conserved sequence RPVSCPECPE . Tryptic peptides generated from the nonreduced forms of the proteins confirmed the presence of heterodimers stabilized through intersubunit disulfide bond formation . With the exception of heterodimer formation, the two proteins share several similarities with OmpA-like porins of other Gram-negative bacteria including consensus sequence, abundance, modification by heat, overall length and positioning of domains. Anim Reprod Sci, 2001 Sep 15, 67(3-4), 135 - 52 Some aspects of immunology of the bovine uterus related to treatments for endometritis; Dhaliwal GS et al.; Endometritis in breeding cattle occurs during the postpartum period, and is associated primarily with contamination of the reproductive tract involving Arcanobacter pyogenes (formerly Actinomyces pyogenes) together with Gram-negative anaerobes . Polymorphonuclear inflammatory cells (PMNs) contribute partly to the defense mechanisms against micro-organisms contaminating the vagina and uterine lumen, whose phagocytic activity depends on bacterial opsonisation by humoral antibodies; significant numbers of lymphocytes are also present . Whilst leukocyte numbers in the uterine lumen are relatively high during metoestrus and dioestrus compared to other phases of the oestrous cycle, their functional activity is unaffected . Humoral antibody concentrations in the reproductive tract are stimulated following exposure to local antigen, and the response is site dependent; of the several different classes of immunoglobulins, IgG predominates in the uterus and IgA the vagina . Only a portion of the total IgG1 found on the uterine lumen is synthesised locally in the endometrium, the remainder and all of the IgG2 is derived from the local uterine blood supply . Generally, concentrations of immunosuppressant proteins present in the uterine lumen increase under progesterone dominance, and these inhibit lymphocyte proliferation, making the uterus more susceptible to infection . The relationship between uterine susceptibility to micro-organism contamination and the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle is still unclear . Intrauterine infusion of immunomodulators such as E . coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or oyster glycogen, in healthy cows and those with endometritis, stimulates leukocytes to migrate into the uterine lumen . At a dosage rate of 100 microg, lipopolysaccharides are not absorbed by the healthy endometrium and do not alter the oestrous cycle length . It is unknown, whether a similar dose can be absorbed through an inflamed endometrium in naturally occurring cases of endometritis to cause systemic illness . Currently, prostaglandin F2alpha is recommended for treating endometritis in both cycling and non-cycling cows, but its mode of action in non-cycling cows is not fully understood . The efficacy of endometritis treatment using an intrauterine infusion of an immunomodulator in cases occurring naturally has not been determined on a large scale. J Periodontol, 2001 Aug, 72(8), 1059 - 63 Short-chain carboxylic acids produced by gram-negative anaerobic bacteria can accelerate or delay polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in vitro; Stehle HW et al.; BACKGROUND: Short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCA) are metabolic byproducts of anaerobic subgingival bacteria associated with human periodontal disease . We examined the effect of 4 SCCA (butyric, propionic, succinic, and lactic acids) on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) apoptosis over the range of concentrations (1 to 30 mM) found in the diseased periodontium . METHODS: PMN suspensions were incubated at 37 degrees C with medium alone (control) or one of the 4 SCCA at concentrations of 1, 5, or 30 mM . Aliquots were withdrawn hourly to assess apoptosis and viability by fluorescence microscopy . RESULTS: Relative to untreated controls, PMN incubated for at least 5 hours with 1 mM butyric or propionic acids exhibited significant delays in apoptosis (P<0.05), while those incubated with succinic or lactic acids exhibited no significant differences from controls (P>0.05) . At a concentration of 5 mM, propionic, succinic, and lactic acids had little effect on apoptosis (P>0.05), but butyric acid significantly accelerated apoptotic changes (P<0.05) . At 30 mM, all SCCA except lactic acid significantly accelerated apoptosis (P<0.05) . Incubation with SCCA did not adversely affect cell viability (typically >98%) . Lysates from PMN incubated 6 hours with 30 mM butyric or propionic acids contained significantly more caspase-3 activity than lysates from untreated control PMN (P<0.05) . Moreover, pretreatment with a specific inhibitor of caspase-3 blocked acceleration of PMN apoptosis by butyric or propionic acids (P<0.05) . CONCLUSION: Low concentrations of butyric or propionic acids delay PMN apoptosis and extend their functional lifespan, while higher concentrations accelerate apoptosis through a mechanism that appears to involve caspase-3. Compend Contin Educ Dent Suppl, 1996, 17(19), S22 - 32 Effects of baking-soda-containing dentifrices on oral malodor; Brunette DM; Oral malodor, also known as bad breath or halitosis, is an extremely common problem . Bad breath can arise from many sources in the body, but most frequently is produced in the mouth by the action of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria on sulfur-containing proteinaceous substrates in the saliva, such as debris and plaque . The primary molecules responsible for oral malodor are volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), such as hydrogen sulfide and methylmercaptan . Increased malodor production is related to greater bacterial numbers, reducing conditions, availability of protein substrates, and a pH above neutral . Bad breath is more common in the elderly, as well as those with unhygienic mouths, gingivitis, and periodontitis, but bad breath can also be found in some individuals who are periodontally healthy . The major source of oral malodor is the tongue . Approaches to controlling malodor have included masking, oral hygiene, antibacterial agents, conversion of VSC to nonodorous forms, oxidizing agents, and traditional approaches, including the use of baking soda . Results of controlled double-blind crossover studies, using both organoleptic (sensory) and gas chromatographic analysis of mouth air VSC, indicate that two dentifrices with high baking-soda concentrations, Arm & Hammer Dental Care and Arm & Hammer PeroxiCare, reduce oral malodor. Nat Struct Biol, 2001 Sep, 8(9), 775 - 8 Characterization of a cellulosome dockerin domain from the anaerobic fungus Piromyces equi; Raghothama S et al.; The recycling of photosynthetically fixed carbon in plant cell walls is a key microbial process . In anaerobes, the degradation is carried out by a high molecular weight multifunctional complex termed the cellulosome . This consists of a number of independent enzyme components, each of which contains a conserved dockerin domain, which functions to bind the enzyme to a cohesin domain within the protein scaffoldin protein . Here we describe the first three-dimensional structure of a fungal dockerin, the N-terminal dockerin of Cel45A from the anaerobic fungus Piromyces equi . The structure contains a novel fold of 42 residues . The ligand binding site consists of residues Trp 35, Tyr 8 and Asp 23, which are conserved in all fungal dockerins . The binding site is on the opposite side of the N- and C-termini of the molecule, implying that tandem dockerin domains, seen in the majority of anaerobic fungal plant cell wall degrading enzymes, could present multiple simultaneous binding sites and, therefore, permit tailoring of binding to catalytic demands. J West Soc Periodontol Periodontal Abstr, 2001, 49(2), 37 - 40 The use of metronidazole in the treatment of periodontal diseases; Ghayoumi N; Diagnostic microbiology and the use of antibiotics should be considered as available tools in periodontal therapy . It appears that the dental health profession has yet to develop a consensus as to whether or not the use of antibiotics alone can wholly or partially replace traditional treatments such as debridement and surgery . The combined use of periodontal microbiology and antibiotic therapy, however, perhaps qualifies as an extension of traditional courses of treatment following a proper clinical diagnosis . Metronidazole offers the periodontist (therapist) the benefits of a high degree of efficacy and relatively few and/or mild adverse side effects . Also it is an antibiotic to which susceptible anaerobes have yet to develop clinical resistance . Therefore, it qualifies as the preferred drug against anaerobic infections under this combined treatment program. Biol Chem, 2001 May, 382(5), 817 - 24 Arg-gingipain is responsible for the degradation of cell adhesion molecules of human gingival fibroblasts and their death induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis; Baba A et al.; Arg-gingipain (Rgp) and Lys-gingipain (Kgp) are two major cysteine proteinases produced by the oral anaerobic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, which has been shown to act as major pathogen in the development and progression of periodontal diseases . These enzymes are also important for this organism to proliferate and survive in periodontal pockets . Here we show that Rgp is responsible for the disruption of fibronectin-integrin interactions in human gingival fibroblasts by P . gingivalis . Fibroblasts incubated with the culture supernatant of P . gingivalis showed a time-dependent loss of the adhesion activity . Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting revealed that fibronectin and integrin subunits alpha2, beta1 and beta3 in the fibroblast culture largely disappeared with the treatment . The detached cells became committed to death by disruption of contacts between adhesion molecules . In contrast, the culture supernatants from the Rgp-deficient mutants produced no significant changes in either cell adhesion or viability . Prior treatment of the culture supernatant of P . gingivalis with an Rgp inhibitor, but not a Kgp inhibitor, strongly inhibited the detachment of fibroblasts followed by cell death . These results suggest that Rgp disrupts the integrin-fibronectin interactions in fibroblasts, thereby contributing to the damage of periodontal tissues in periodontal diseases caused by P . gingivalis. J Oral Sci, 2001 Jun, 43(2), 117 - 22 The value of routine antibiotic prophylaxis in mandibular third molar surgery: acute-phase protein levels as indicators of infection; Bulut E et al.; Postoperative infections in the oral region are usually caused by anaerobic bacteria . While some authors claim that routine antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary after third molar surgery, others do not recommend this practice . The major subject of controversy is what constitutes postoperative infection . Previous studies that have examined the benefit of routine antibiotic prophylaxis have used several clinical symptoms (pain, swelling, and trismus) as indicators of infection; however, these clinical symptoms may be vague and unreliable, and cannot be evaluated scientifically . As a result, their use has only sparked more debate in this area of research . The present study assessed the value of routine antibiotic prophylaxis in impacted mandibular third molar surgery using acute-phase protein levels as potential indicators of early and late postoperative infection . Specifically, serum levels of C-reactive protein and alpha-1 antitrypsin were measured preoperatively and postoperatively in patients who received either prophylactic antibiotics or placebos . The results revealed no statistically significant difference between treated and control patients in terms of incidence of postoperative infection. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2001 Jul, 65(7), 1474 - 81 Isolation and characterization of Desulfitobacterium sp . strain Y51 capable of efficient dehalogenation of tetrachloroethene and polychloroethanes; Suyama A et al.; A strict anaerobic bacterium, strain Y51, was isolated from soil contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE) . Strain Y51 is capable of very efficiently dehalogenating PCE via trichloroethene (TCE) to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) at concentrations as high as 960 microM and as low as 0.6 microM . Strain Y51 was gram-negative, motile with some lateral flagella, and curved rod-shaped . On the basis of the 16S rDNA sequence, the organism was identified to be a species within the genus Desulfitobacterium . Strain Y51 also had dehalogenation activities toward polychloroethanes such as hexa-, penta-, and tetrachloroethanes, from which dichloroethenes were produced as the final products . The cell extracts mediated the dehalogenation of PCE with reduced methyl viologen as an electron carrier at the specific rate of 5.0 nmol min(-1) mg cell protein(-1) (pH 7.2, 37 degrees C) . Dehalogenation was highly susceptible to air oxidation, and to potential alternative electron acceptors such as nitrite or sulfite. Paediatr Drugs, 2001, 3(7), 481 - 94 Drug treatment of nonviral sexually transmitted diseases: specific issues in adolescents; Lehmann CE et al.; Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are common and happen more frequently in younger patients . These adolescents have unique risks of acquiring infection because of developing psychosocial skills, biological factors and sociocultural barriers . The clinician must be adept at identifying and modifying these risks through knowledge of the adolescent stages of development and biology, with good history and examination skills that make teens comfortable during their evaluation, and with patient education and treatment . Whereas patient compliance and partner notification can be problematic in any population, teenagers may be more prone not to follow through on these issues . While compliance may notbe as important as previously thought, there is a dearth of studies of patient compliance and STD treatment in adolescents . Guidelines for the treatment of STDs were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1998 and the Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Diseases in 1999 . Most of the data obtained to formulate these guidelines were not necessarily adolescent specific and few studies, if any, have included adolescent patients since the CDC document was published . In the treatment of chlamydia, it appears that even with relative noncompliance with the 7-day regimen of doxycycline, it is as effective as single dose azithromycin . This has implications in cost control, important for centres with limited funds for treatment . While fluoroquinolone-resistant gonorrhoea has been reported for some time, the number of reports in the US is increasing, with a recent report of decreased susceptibility to azithromycin . As many studies have shown efficacy with single agent therapy with azithromycin in combined gonococcal and chlamydial infection, one must view these new resistance data with concern and give serious consideration to dual agent treatment, especially in the locale of the practitioner . Also, fluoroquinolone use is not advised in patients under the age of 18 years at present because of concerns of adverse effects on cartilage . While not much has changed from the 1998 guidelines for most of the other STDs, there seems to be a general trend in treating pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) on an outpatient basis if good follow-up is assured, even in the adolescent population . There is still debate on whether anaerobe coverage is needed in PID without tubo-ovarian abscess or other complications . One other update includes the use of daily metronidazole gel instead of twice daily usage in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis . With the lack of studies specific to adolescents, it is left up to the clinician to tailor the treatment of adolescents on the basis of current guidelines and patient preferences. Science, 2001 Aug 17, 293(5533), 1281 - 5 Crystal structure of a carbon monoxide dehydrogenase reveals a {Ni-4Fe-5S} cluster; Dobbek H et al.; The homodimeric nickel-containing CO dehydrogenase from the anaerobic bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans catalyzes the oxidation of CO to CO2 . A crystal structure of the reduced enzyme has been solved at 1.6 angstrom resolution . This structure represents the prototype for Ni-containing CO dehydrogenases from anaerobic bacteria and archaea . It contains five metal clusters of which clusters B, B', and a subunit-bridging, surface-exposed cluster D are cubane-type {4Fe-4S} clusters . The active-site clusters C and C' are novel, asymmetric {Ni-4Fe-5S} clusters . Their integral Ni ion, which is the likely site of CO oxidation, is coordinated by four sulfur ligands with square planar geometry. Acta Med Croatica, 2001, 55(2), 87 - 90 The prevalence of anaerobic infection in pilonidal sinus of the sacrococcygeal region and its effect on the complications; Miocinovic M et al.; Bacteriologic characteristics of pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region were assessed in two groups of patients: patients with disease recurrence (group A), and patients who first ever presented for surgical treatment (group B) . The frequency of anaerobic colonization was studied . Bacterial colonization is frequently present in patients with pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region . Samples of the skin over the sacrococcygeal sinus showed the presence of bacterial colonization in 78% and 70% of group A and group B patients, respectively . Analysis of sinus fluid samples revealed the presence of bacteria in 88% of group A patients and 78% of group B patients . Anaerobic colonization in the content of pilonidal sinus was found in approximately 2/3 (64%) group A patients and about a half (52%) group B patients . Considerable bacterial colonization was also recorded in skin swab samples, i.e . in 48% of group A patients and 38% of group B patients . Anaerobic bacteria were rarely detected in pure cultures (in group A 6% skin swab, and 20% of sinus fluid samples, and in group B, 4% of skin swab and 12% of sinus fluid samples) . Anaerobes were mostly detected in combined cultures (42% of skin swab and 44% of sinus fluid samples from group A, 32% of skin swab and 40% of sinus fluid samples from group B) . Surgical methods to considerably reduce the conditions for anaerobic bacterial colonization of the wound should be the methods of choice in the management of pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2001 Sep, 45(9), 2455 - 9 In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of TAK-083, an agent for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection; Kanamaru T et al.; The antibacterial activity of TAK-083 was tested against 54 clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori and was compared with those of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole . The growth-inhibitory activity of TAK-083 was more potent than that of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or metronidazole (the MICs at which 90% of the strains are inhibited were 0.031, 0.125, 64, and 8 microg/ml, respectively) . The antibacterial activity of TAK-083 was highly selective against H . pylori; there was a >30-fold difference between the concentration of TAK-083 required to inhibit the growth of H . pylori and that required to inhibit the growth of common aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . Exposure of H . pylori strains to TAK-083 at the MIC or at a greater concentration resulted in an extensive loss of viability . When four H . pylori strains were successively subcultured in the medium containing subinhibitory concentrations of TAK-083, no significant change in the MICs of this compound was observed . TAK-083 strongly inhibited the formation of tryptophanyl-tRNA in H . pylori while exhibiting little effect on the same system in eukaryotes . TAK-083 was efficacious in the treatment of gastric infection caused by H . pylori in Mongolian gerbils . The results presented here indicate that TAK-083 is a promising candidate for the treatment of H . pylori infection. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2001, 46(1), 57 - 9 Reliable identification of Prevotella and Butyrivibrio spp . from rumen by fatty acid methyl ester profiles; Logar RM et al.; Data for bacterial identification were provided by culturing anaerobic bacteria under standardized conditions followed by extraction and methylation of cellular long-chain fatty acids and gas chromatographic analysis . The databases of fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEs) profiles for two predominant ruminal genera, Prevotella and Butyrivibrio, were created . Major long-chain cellular fatty acids found in the 23 analyzed Prevotella strains were 15:0 (anteiso), 15:0, 15:0 (iso) and 16:0 . The strains of Prevotella could be well identified on species level by the characteristic ratios among major fatty acids and by acids unique fatty for each species . The 45 Butyrivibrio strains were grouped into 4 major and 2 minor groups according to FAMEs profiles . The major fatty acids for the bulk of the Butyrivibrio strains were 14:0, 15:1, 16:0 and 16:0 (iso) . This groups corresponded to those based on 16S rDNA sequences. Infect Immun, 2001 Sep, 69(9), 5447 - 55 Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the leukotoxin gene from Fusobacterium necrophorum; Narayanan SK et al.; Fusobacterium necrophorum is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium that is a primary or secondary etiological agent in a variety of necrotic purulent infections in animals and humans . Included are diseases of cattle such as liver abscesses and foot rot, which have economically important consequences for the cattle industry . The major virulence factor of this bacterium is leukotoxin, a secreted protein of high molecular weight active against leukocytes from ruminants . The screening of a genomic DNA library with polyclonal antisera raised against native affinity-purified leukotoxin and further extension of the sequence using inverse PCR led to the cloning of the entire leukotoxin gene . The leukotoxin gene open reading frame (ORF; lktA) consists of 9,726 bp and encodes a protein of 3,241 amino acids with an overall molecular weight of 335,956 . The leukotoxin does not have sequence similarity with any other bacterial leukotoxin . Five truncated overlapping polypeptides covering the whole lktA ORF were used to immunize rabbits . In Western blot assays, polyclonal antisera raised against all five truncated polypeptides recognized affinity-purified leukotoxin from F . necrophorum culture supernatant in a Western blot assay . Antisera directed against two of the five polypeptides had neutralizing activity against the toxin . The entire leukotoxin ORF was expressed in Escherichia coli . Flow-cytometric analysis showed that the recombinant leukotoxin was active against bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes and was inhibited with antiserum raised against the F . necrophorum leukotoxin . Southern blot hybridization analysis revealed different patterns of lktA hybridizing bands between isolates of the two subspecies of F . necrophorum. Klin Med (Mosk), 2001, 79(4), 37 - 9 {Composition and role of short chain fatty acids in feces and peripheral blood serum of patients with cholelithiasis}; Minushkin ON et al.; Gas-liquid chromatography was used to estimate content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in 25 patients with cholelithiasis, 32 patients with irritable colon syndrome and constipation (ICS) and 35 healthy subjects . It was found that SCFA absolute and relative concentration in the feces of cholelithiasis patients is abnormal indicating disturbance of microbiocenosis as shown by changes in functional activity of some anaerobes of the intestinal microflora participating in enterohepatic circulation of bile acids . Alterations of SCFA content in the serum of cholelithiasis patients may be related to steroids disbolism . The study of SCFA in the feces and peripheral blood serum from cholelithiasis patients is of diagnostic value. Hinyokika Kiyo, 2001 Jun, 47(6), 441 - 3 {Rupture of intrascrotal epidermoid cyst complicated by bacterial infection: a case report}; Nezasa S et al.; A 63-year-old male visited our hospital with the chief complaint of right scrotal pain . The right scrotum was swollen to the size of a small egg, and its skin was reddish . The mass was palpable independent of the right testis and epididymis . We diagnosed an intrascrotal abscess . The pus spontaneously issued from the scrotal mass . Sequentially, the abscess was extracted under spinal anesthesia . Membrane-like tissue assumed as the abscess wall was removed . Histologically, the abscess wall was composed of epidermal structure with epidermal keratinization, and horny material was found inside the wall . In the scrotal epidermis overlying the abscess, infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells were observed . Anaerobic bacteria were detected in the pus of the abscess . Consequently, we diagnosed this case as rupture of an intrascrotal epidermoid cyst complicated by bacterial infection. J Clin Periodontol, 2001 Sep, 28(9), 813 - 9 Association between oral malodor and adult periodontitis: a review; Morita M et al.; BACKGROUND: Bad breath has a significant impact on our daily social life to those who suffer from it . The majority of bad breath originates within the oral cavity . However, it is also possible that it can come from other sources such as gastric-intestine imbalance . The term "oral malodor" is used to describe a foul or offensive odor emanating from the oral cavity, in which proteolysis, metabolic products of the desquamating cell, and bacterial putrefaction are involved . Recent evidence has demonstrated a link between oral malodor and adult periodontitis . The process of developing bad breath is similar to that noted in the progression of gingivitis/periodontitis . Oral malodor is mainly attributed to volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide . The primary causative microbes are gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria that are similar to the bacteria causing periodontitis . These bacteria produce the VSC by metabolizing different cells/tissues (i.e., epithelial cells, leukocytes, etc.) located in saliva, dental plaque, and gingival crevicular fluid . Tongue surface is composed of blood components, nutrients, large amounts of desquamated epithelial cells and bacteria, suggesting that it has the proteolytic and putrefactive capacity to produce VSC . One of the challenges in dealing with oral malodor is to identify a reliable test for detecting bad breath . AIMS: The purposes of this review article were: (1) to correlate the relationship between oral malodor and adult periodontitis; (2) to analyze current malodor tests and discuss available treatment regimens. J Endod, 2001 Feb, 27(2), 76 - 81 Viable bacteria in root dentinal tubules of teeth with apical periodontitis; Peters LB et al.; Two sets of teeth with apical periodontitis were collected at different geographic locations to study the identity of bacteria left in the root dentinal tubules . Root dentin of 20 of these teeth was cultured from three locations between pulp and cementum (A, B, and C) . In addition dentin from eight teeth was examined histologically . Using the culturing technique bacteria were found in 77% of the dentin samples from set 1 (Amsterdam) and in 87.5% of the dentin samples from set 2 (Glasgow) . At greater distance, in layer C, from the pulp bacteria were found in 62% (13 of 21) of the dentin samples . Twenty-three percent (3 of 13) of set 1 and 25% (2 of 8) of set 2 contained >50,000 colony-forming units/mg of dentin in layer C . In layers closer to the pulp higher numbers of anaerobic bacteria and gram-positive rods were found, as well as a larger number of bacterial species . Histological sections showed bacterial penetration in dentinal tubules in 5 of 8 teeth . In the other three teeth where the colony-forming units/mg recovered was <10,000, no histological signs of tubule penetration was seen . It seems clear that, in more than half of the infected roots, bacteria are present in the deep dentin close to the cementum and that anaerobic culturing of dentin is more sensitive than histology to detect these bacteria. Arch Microbiol, 2001 Jun, 175(6), 389 - 94 A Desulfitobacterium strain isolated from human feces that does not dechlorinate chloroethenes or chlorophenols; van de Pas BA et al.; An anaerobic bacterium, strain DP7, was isolated from human feces in mineral medium with formate and 0.02% yeast extract as energy and carbon source . This rod-shaped motile bacterium used pyruvate, lactate, formate, hydrogen, butyrate, and ethanol as electron donor for sulfite reduction . Other electron acceptors such as thiosulfate, nitrate and fumarate stimulated growth in the presence of 0.02% yeast extract and formate . Acetate was the only product during fermentative growth on pyruvate . Six mol of pyruvate were fermented to 7 mol of acetate . 13C-NMR labeling experiments showed homoacetogenic 13C-CO2 incorporation into acetate . The pH and temperature optimum of fermentative growth on pyruvate was 7.4 and 37 degrees C, respectively . The growth rate under these conditions was approximately 0.10 h(-1) . Strain DP7 was identified as a new strain of Desulfitobacterium frappieri on the basis of 16S rRNA sequence analysis (99% similarity) and DNA-DNA hybridization (reassociation value of 83%) with Desulfitobacterium frappieri TCE1 . In contrast to described Desulfitobacterium strains, the newly isolated strain has not been isolated from a polluted environment and did not use chloroethenes or chlorophenols as electron acceptor. J Endod, 2001 Mar, 27(3), 164 - 7 Detection of putative oral pathogens in acute periradicular abscesses by 16S rDNA-directed polymerase chain reaction; Siqueira JF Jr et al.; A 16S rDNA-directed polymerase chain reaction method was used to assess the occurrence of four black-pigmented anaerobic rods, Treponema denticola, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in acute periradicular abscesses . Pus was collected by aspiration from 10 cases diagnosed as acute abscesses of endodontic origin . DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-based identification assay . The method allowed detecting black-pigmented anaerobes in 80% of the examined abscesses . Porphyromonas endodontalis was found in 70%, T . denticola in 50%, Porphyromonas gingivalis in 40%, and Prevotella intermedia in 10% of the cases . P . gingivalis was always found associated with P . endodontalis . Prevotella nigrescens and A . actinomycetemcomitans were not found in any pus sample . The high prevalence of P . endodontalis, T . denticola, and P . gingivalis suggests that they can play an important role in the etiology of acute periradicular abscesses. Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1997 Feb, 15(1), 13 - 5 {The experimental observation on characteristics of soft tissues infection in maxillofacial region wounded by high velocity missile}; Jiang H et al.; In this experimental study, maxillofacial regions of dogs were wounded by steel spheres, which weight 1.03 g at a mean primary velocity of 1500 m/s . Aerobe and anaerobe bacteria in the muscles of different interval from wound track edge were cultured at different time after wound . The results showed that there was bacteria infection in the soft tissues between 0 and 0.5 cm from wound track edge in 6 hours after wound . The quantity of bacteria obviously increased following time prolonging, on the contrary, it was much lower than threshold value of bacteria infection within 24 hours . The experimental results suggested that there was obvious bacteria infection in the soft tissues within 0.5 cm distance from wound track edge in maxillofacial firearm wound region . During the debridement removing soft tissues within 0.5 cm distance from wound track edge, the infection of wound region could be controlled . Using effective antibiotics is an important measure of controlling infection of wound after debridement. J Cosmet Sci, 2001 Jul-Aug, 52(4), 211 - 24 Differential scanning calorimetry studies of sebum models; Motwani MR et al.; Human sebum is a mixture of triglycerides, fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters . P . acnes, a bacterium that is normally found on the skin, hydrolyzes certain triglycerides to fatty acids, thereby changing the sebum composition . The objective of this study was to examine the physical state of a model sebum and the effect of variations in its composition on its physical properties including (a) the carbon chain length of the components, (b) the ratio of unsaturated to saturated components, and (c) the ratio of triglycerides to fatty acids . A model sebum mixture was prepared based on a composition reported in the literature and evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) . Since cholesterol and cholesterol esters contribute insignificantly to sebum composition, they were not included . Squalene was kept constant (13%), while the concentration of the rest of the components was varied . Variations of sebum were prepared by dissolving all components in a 3:1 chloroform-methanol mixture for uniformity . Subsequently the solvent was evaporated at room temperature . The samples were then analyzed using DSC . Four distinct endotherms (namely, Mp-1, Mp-2, Mp-3, and Mp-4) were observed between -50 degrees C and 100 degrees C . Mp-1 and Mp-2 occurred below 0 degrees C and were contributed by unsaturated components . Mp-3 and Mp-4, which represent the saturated components, occurred above 30 degrees C . Thus, at normal skin temperature (skin surface temperature is 32 degrees C), sebum contains both a solid and a liquid phase . All the transition temperatures increased with an increase in carbon chain length for the same ratio of unsaturation to saturation . A replacement of unsaturated components with corresponding saturated components led to a decrease in the transition temperatures for the former (Mp-1 and Mp-2) and an increase in the transition temperatures for the latter (Mp-3 and Mp-4) . Replacement of triglycerides with corresponding fatty acids (mimicking the action of anaerobic bacteria) caused an increase in Mp-2 and a decrease in Mp-4 . In all cases, the final melting temperature (Mp-4) was greater than the temperature of the human skin surface (32 degrees C); thus components contributing to these endotherms are still solids at skin temperature . All variations in the sebum model led to mixtures of solids and liquids at skin temperature . Considering a reduction in Mp-3 and/or Mp-4 to represent sebum "fluidization," it was achieved by a decrease in carbon chain length, an increase in unsaturation, or a substitution of triglycerides by corresponding fatty acids . Preferential enrichment with the saturated species will lead to enrichment of solids versus liquids in the sebum, presumably making it difficult for the liquid phase to dissolve the solids . It seems plausible that perturbation of the balance of solid and liquid components of sebum, such as by P . acnes action, may lead to blockage of the follicle . Future research will investigate strategies to dissolve and/or liquify the solid phase of sebum. Klin Khir, 2001 Jan, (1), 18 - 21 {Application of enteral detoxication and decontamination in acute ileus}; Kutsyk IuB et al.; According to the experimental investigation data, conducted in 16 mongrel dogs in an acute ileus (AI), there are observed the colonization of proximal parts of small intestine (SI) by aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, the power dependent processes of inhibition and activation of peroxidal oxidation of lipids in her mucosa, causing the disorders of her morphology . Conduction of intraoperative flowing intestinal lavage and the abdominal cavity sanation using betadin, diluted in 1:100 ratio, have promoted the pathological microorganisms quantity reduction and stimulation of power dependent processes in the SI mucosa . Application of enteral detoxication and decontamination in 86 patients with AI during performance and after the operation have permitted to reduce the intoxication severity, to restore the motor, evacuational, absorbtive function of SI, the postoperative complications frequency. Nature, 2001 Jul 19, 412(6844), 324 - 7 The role of microbial mats in the production of reduced gases on the early Earth; Hoehler TM et al.; The advent of oxygenic photosynthesis on Earth may have increased global biological productivity by a factor of 100-1,000 (ref . 1), profoundly affecting both geochemical and biological evolution . Much of this new productivity probably occurred in microbial mats, which incorporate a range of photosynthetic and anaerobic microorganisms in extremely close physical proximity . The potential contribution of these systems to global biogeochemical change would have depended on the nature of the interactions among these mat microorganisms . Here we report that in modern, cyanobacteria-dominated mats from hypersaline environments in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, photosynthetic microorganisms generate H2 and CO-gases that provide a basis for direct chemical interactions with neighbouring chemotrophic and heterotrophic microbes . We also observe an unexpected flux of CH4, which is probably related to H2-based alteration of the redox potential within the mats . These fluxes would have been most important during the nearly 2-billion-year period during which photosynthetic mats contributed substantially to biological productivity-and hence, to biogeochemistry-on Earth . In particular, the large fluxes of H2 that we observe could, with subsequent escape to space, represent a potentially important mechanism for oxidation of the primitive oceans and atmosphere. Water Res, 2001 Aug, 35(11), 2589 - 94 The variation on the mutagenicity of CNP during anaerobic biodegradation; Matsushita T et al.; The mutagenicity of water, including herbicide CNP, and its time-variation during anaerobic biodegradation were studied through Ames assay using strains with or without . S9 mix: TA98, TA 100, YG1021, YG1024, YG1026, and YG1029 . The bacteria, for the anaerobic biodegradation, was obtained from a paddy field, and preincubated for a month . The CNP was decomposed in an anaerobic culture inoculated with the bacteria, and finally yielded CNP-amino as one of the CNP metabolites . About 16% of the initial CNP was transformed into CNP-amino by the 14th day . The mutagenicities to TA98 . YG1024, and YG1029 strains with S9 mix increased with cultivating time, the latter two showed the strongest sensitivity to CNP-amino . The contribution of CNP to the mutagenicity decreased as the chemical decomposed, while the contribution of CNP-amino increased . However, the increased mutagenicity was not limited to the contribution of CNP-amino . but also to the contribution of other metabolites . The contributions of other CNP metabolites were 67% of total mutagenicity to the TA98 strain and 30% to the YG1029 strain . These unknown mutagenic metabolites were the indirect frameshift mutagens which did not have nitro- and amino-substituents, and the indirect base-pair mutagens which might possibly have some amino-substituents. Transfusion, 2001 Jul, 41(7), 928 - 32 In vivo survival of apheresis RBCs, frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol, deglycerolized in the ACP 215, and stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for up to 21 days; Valeri CR et al.; BACKGROUND: The FDA has approved the storage of frozen RBCs at -80 degrees C for 10 years and the postwash storage at 4 degrees C for no more than 24 hours . The 4 degrees C postwash storage period is limited to 24 hours, because the current deglycerolization systems are functionally open systems . STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two units of RBCs were collected from each of 13 healthy male volunteers . The RBCs were collected in CP2D by the FDA-approved protocol for an automated apheresis device (MCS, LN8150, Haemonetics) and were stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for 6 days . Using a single disposable glycerolization set in an automated, functionally closed system (ACP 215, Haemonetics) each unit was transferred to a 1000-mL PVC plastic bag and glycerolized to a concentration of 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol and frozen at -80 degrees C . A single disposable deglycerolization set in the ACP 215 was used to deglycerolize the 2 units from the same donor . The deglycerolized RBCs were stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for as long as 21 days . RESULTS: The mean +/- SD freeze-thaw-wash recovery value was 89.4 +/- 3 percent . The residual hemolysis in the RBCs stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for 21 days after deglycerolization was 0.9 +/- 0.2 percent, and the units were negative for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . The mean Nageotte WBC count was 9 x 10(6) per unit . When the deglycerolized RBCs were given as an autologous transfusion after storage at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for the 7- to 18-day period, the mean +/- SD 24-hour posttransfusion survival was 77 +/- 7 percent, and the index of therapeutic effectiveness was 69 +/- 8 percent . CONCLUSION: Two units of human RBCs collected from a single donor by apheresis in the MCS using an LN8150 set can be glycerolized sequentially with a single disposable set and deglycerolized sequentially with another single disposable set in the ACP 215 . The previously frozen RBCs stored in AS-3 for 7 to 18 days at 4 de